Xyriel Manabat has successfully transitioned from a child star to a teen actress
In the entertainment industry, it is not always guaranteed that every accomplished celebrity who takes a long hiatus in their acting career will make a successful comeback or, more importantly, maintain a flourishing career.
Definitely, for those who do succeed, it is certainly an impressive feat.
Homegrown Kapamilya actress Xyriel Manabat is one perfect example of those who went through this journey.
Xyriel, whose full name is Xyriel Anne Bustamante Manabat, was born on January 27, 2004.
At five years old, she competed in the 2009 Kapamilya talent show “Star Circle Quest: Search for the Next Kiddie Idol,” where she placed third runner-up. This jumpstarted her career on television and film.
Xyriel Manabat as child star
After her stint in “Star Circle Kid Quest,” she made several television projects, becoming one of the more familiar child stars on TV.
It was her portrayal of the young Agua and Bendita in the 2010 primetime show “Agua Bendita” that gave her a break. “Agua Bendita” was a fantasy-drama series based on a comics novel by Rod Santiago.
She was well-loved in the show that her supposed four-week apperance was extended to eight weeks, before lead star Andi Eigenmann assumed the role as the teenage Agua and Bendita.
Xyriel’s effective portrayal in “Agua Bendita” led to her first titular role in another comic novel adaptation, “Momay,” written by Elena Patron. When the show ended, she had a participation in the fantasy drama series “Noah,” alongside Piolo Pascual and Zaijian Jaranilla.
All these happened in 2010, as she was jumping from one project to another.
She ended her first year in showbiz by joining the MMFF entry “Ang Tanging Ina Mo (Last na ‘To!),” where hse won her first Best Child Performer award.
In 2011, she was cast in the primetime series “100 Days to Heaven,” where she portrayed the young Anna Manalastas, sharing the screen with veteran actress Coney Reyes as her character’s adult counterpart.
Through the show, Xyriel received numerous acting nominations and won several acting awards, including Best Child Performer in the 26th PMPC Star Awards for Television.
Xyriel also did the shows “Ikaw Ay Pag-ibig” and “Kailangan Ko’y Ikaw” in the succeeding years. She also headlined her own two-month special for “Wansapanataym,” where she played various roles.
In 2014, as Xyriel was starting to get tween roles, she played the young Angel Locsin in “The Legal Wife” before becoming part of another drama series, “Hawak-Kamay.” She portrayed one of Piolo Pascual’s character’s adopted children and allowed her to work with other ABS-CBN child wonders Andrea Brillantes and Zaijian Jaranilla.
Xyriel’s last acting project before her acting hiatus was the 2017 drama series “Wildflower” as the young Ivy Aguas.
Xyriel Manabat puts acting on hold
Indeed, Xyriel’s journey as a child star had undoubtedly taken her to great heights, with television projects and movies left and right.
However, she made a courageous and significant decision: to put her acting career on hold and embark on finishing her studies.
This decision took many by surprise, leaving many netizens curious about her whereabouts.
In 2020, she shared her latest achievement away from the showbiz spotlight and posted a graduation photo on her instagram account.
She had completed high school with high honors at Golden Faith Academy in Taytay, Rizal. She later revealed in an exclusive interview with PEP.ph that she plans to pursue a degree in civil engineering.
During the pandemic, Xyriel became visible on social media as a gamer, where she usually streams on Facebook.
Xyriel Manabat’s major acting comeback
Six years after putting her acting chops on pause, Xyriel made a triumphant return on TV via the 2023 drama series “Dirty Linen,” where she embraced the role of clout-obsessed influencer Antonette “Tonet” Pavia, the daughter of the characters played by Angel Aquino and Epy Quizon.
Her performance not only showcased her acting range but also earned positive reviews from the viewers.
During a recent interview with FreebieMNL at the finale media conference of “Dirty Linen,” Xyriel modestly downplayed her acting prowess, instead attributing her effectiveness as an actress to the bond she formed with her co-stars Francine Diaz and Raven Rigor.
She elaborated, saying, “Doon po talaga makikita yung connection and yung bond na nabuo namin kasi we really helped each other po.
“Kung kina-kailangan pong hugutan namin yung isa’t isa, maghawak kami ng kamay, magsigawan kaming tatlo bago pa po mag-take, talagang ifi-feed namin sa isa’t isa yung kailangan naming motivation, kailangan naming pag-i-internalize,” she added.
Xyriel Manabat’s new look
Recently, Xyriel made headlines and left her fans awestruck when she revealed her new look after undergoing cosmetic enhancements.
On June 28, Xyriel shared a set of photos on her Instagram account showing off her improved appearance, thanking the beauty clinic responsible for her transformation.
Currently, Xyriel is part of the Dreamscape series “Senior High,” where she plays an important role as Andrea Brillantes’ friend and a student of Northford High who knows the secrets of their class.
Now, at 19, she has made a remarkable comeback and continues to shine in the roles she portrays on television, reclaiming her rightful place in showbiz.
Banner Art Paulo Correa
